"Aaron Smith, Cheslin Kolbe" – Japan Rugby League One: Overseas Players from each team for 2024/25 Season
Today at 11:02 AM
Japan Rugby League One returns this weekend, with some of the world’s top international stars returning to their clubs in the Far East. The league is decorated with an assortment of All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies and former stars of the Home Nations, with Round One getting underway as Mie Honda Heat take on Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo.
We have compiled a shortlist of players that stand out from each of the JRLO sides, that rugby fans can keep an eye on as the league returns from early Saturday morning (UK time). There is plenty of firepower in the top division, with an eclectic list of Rugby World Cup winners amongst the Test match stars set to take centre stage across Japan this weekend.
Two fixtures from each round of JRLO action can be watched in the UK through World Rugby’s RugbyPass TV, however you will have to set your alarms thanks to the time zone differences. Rugby fans can cast their minds back to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, for the 03:00am wake-up calls to watch the early kick offs from the tournament.
Division OneFixtures: Japan Rugby League One (Kick Offs in UK Time)
Saturday, December 21
- Mie Honda Heat v Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo; at Suzuka, 3:10am GMT
- Shizuoka Blue Revs v Kobelco Kobe Steelers; at Shizuoka, 5:00am GMT
- Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights; at Tokyo, 5:30am GMT
Sunday, December 22
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars v Urayasu D-Rocks; at Kanagawa, 5:30am GMT
- Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay v Toyota Verblitz; at Tokyo, 5:30am GMT
- Yokohama Canon Eagles v Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo; at Kanagawa, 5:30am GMT
CONFERENCE A
SHIZUOKA BLUE REVS
Kwagga Smith (South Africa – Back Row)
Simon Miller (South Africa – Back Row)
Sam Greene (Australia – Back Row)
Charles Piutau (Ex-New Zealand / Tonga – Fullback)
KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
Brodie Retallick (New Zealand – Lock)
Ngani Laumape (New Zealand – Centre)
George Turner (Scotland – Hooker)
URAYASA D-ROCKS
Samu Kerevi (Australia – Centre)
Jasper Weise (South Africa – Back Row)
Otere Black (New Zealand – Fly Half)
Israel Folau (Ex Australia / Tonga – Fullback)
TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO
Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand – Fly Half)
Shannon Frizzell (New Zealand – Back Row)
Seta Tamanivalu (Fiji – Centre)
Michael Collins (New Zealand – Centre)
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES SAGMIHARA DYNABOARS
Curtis Rona (Australia – Centre)
Walt Steenkamp (South Africa – Lock)
Jack Stratton (New Zealand – Scrum Half)
Matt Vaega (New Zealand – Centre)
YOKOHOMA CANON EAGLES
Faf de Klerk (South Africa – Scrum Half)
Jesse Kriel (South Africa – Centre)
Brendan Owens (South Africa – Fullback)
Matt Phillip (Australia – Lock)
Cormac Daly (Ireland – Lock)
CONTINUES ON PAGE 2
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